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I feel like a trader.
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I farted.
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369 Posts
Sure, Harleys are cool...I never said they weren't.
He asked what we thought.
He doesn't take delivery until the 31st, so there's still time to save him a lot of money and time spent at HD Service reading magazines from 2008 while we're all riding.
And he IS in the Honda Shadow Forum, right?
It's a Public Service.
He likes to "Buy American"....Marysville Ohio is in the USA, btw.
If he wants a 2012 version of a 1965 motorcycle, okay, I understand.
But I'd buy a restored first year electric start standard trim Electra Glide or an pre Road King EVO carb FLHS before a 2012 Slim Bob Night Boy or whatever it's called if I were buying a HD of that size/shape.
Or a new Victory cross thingy street glide copy....or a Fury...or a Victory adjustable ape hanger thing or that ginormous Thunderbird twin....anything but a TCb Softail.
He still has 10 days to come to his senses! Help the poor fella!
He asked what we thought.
He doesn't take delivery until the 31st, so there's still time to save him a lot of money and time spent at HD Service reading magazines from 2008 while we're all riding.
And he IS in the Honda Shadow Forum, right?
It's a Public Service.
He likes to "Buy American"....Marysville Ohio is in the USA, btw.
If he wants a 2012 version of a 1965 motorcycle, okay, I understand.
But I'd buy a restored first year electric start standard trim Electra Glide or an pre Road King EVO carb FLHS before a 2012 Slim Bob Night Boy or whatever it's called if I were buying a HD of that size/shape.
Or a new Victory cross thingy street glide copy....or a Fury...or a Victory adjustable ape hanger thing or that ginormous Thunderbird twin....anything but a TCb Softail.
He still has 10 days to come to his senses! Help the poor fella!
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23,171 Posts
Ya know I was ready to agree with you here, then I went back and read the OP again..this is what it stated..Sure, Harleys are cool...I never said they weren't.
He asked what we thought.
He doesn't take delivery until the 31st, so there's still time to save him a lot of money and time spent at HD Service reading magazines from 2008 while we're all riding.
And he IS in the Honda Shadow Forum, right?
It's a Public Service.
He likes to "Buy American"....Marysville Ohio is in the USA, btw.
If he wants a 2012 version of a 1965 motorcycle, okay, I understand.
But I'd buy a restored first year electric start standard trim Electra Glide or an pre Road King EVO carb FLHS before a 2012 Slim Bob Night Boy or whatever it's called if I were buying a HD of that size/shape.
Or a new Victory cross thingy street glide copy....or a Fury...or a Victory adjustable ape hanger thing or that ginormous Thunderbird twin....anything but a TCb Softail.
He still has 10 days to come to his senses! Help the poor fella!
I feel like a trader. I went to the Harley Store today to pay for my Rider Course. Then I was headed to Honda to check out some Shadows. I didn't make it that far. I fell in love with a Harley. The Harley Softail Slim. Sorry Guys.
No where do I see him asking for your opinion, but even if he did, even if he stated hey guys what do YOU think.. what would have been so hard about simply saying..not my bag but hey if it's what you want?
Oh wait.. of course, then you would not have had a chance to bash.. another thought, you say the TC is a bad engine..tales of woe and destruction and such.. yet there are thousands and thousands running around with no issues to speak of.. kind of like the Sabre 1100.. the infamous Sabre tick is a mere nuisance for the vast majority of Sabre owners.. but occasionally it can be more serious.. Honda flaw.. oh wow!!
The Sabre Group Tech & Mods
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98 Posts
Posting anything on a public forum is asking for an opinion whether you want it or not. If that's something people can't handle, I suggest the internet may not be for them.
Nice bike, OP. I'm in the "I won't pay that much for a brand" crowd, but it is a nice looking scoot.
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286 Posts
Damn. I bet you've reread this 9 or 10 times.... pattin' yourself on the back each time for this exceptional piece of wittiness.Facts are facts and throughout this thread you haven't advanced any.
The fact is that HD's TC motor is something of a dud. Not their best work.
HD owners here are loathe to accept that...but it doesn't change the facts.
Go have a look at the HD Forums sometime...I've used it as a source for work-arounds and various common issues with Harleys for years...there's TONS of detailed Tech Info there.
By comparison...this Honda Shadow forum doesn't have NEARLY the in-depth tech info the HD Forums have.
Why? Simple...there's virtually nothing of significance that ever goes wrong with a Honda V-Twin.
Personal Insults. You and a few others, Harley owners for the most part, have called me a few schoolgirl names in this thread, but beyond that haven't said much that has been worthy of note.
Kool-Aid. Harley Davidson are marketing geniuses. That wasn't always true...
- The 1st time Honda nearly bankrupted HD, AMF was the Rescuer.
- The 2nd time Honda nearly bankrupted HD, US Govt Taxes were the Rescuer.
- The 3rd time Honda nearly bankrupted HD, internal management looked to the Marysville Plant and Toyota's JIT processes to get on track.
That's when HD decided to bridge the gap with the whole Retro Drink the Brotherhood Koolaid Nothing is like a Harley approach.
And despite the allegations of Stock Price manipulation, creative Financing and Inventory voodoo since then, HD is still around....the KoolAid has influence an entire generation of Americans that a Harley davidson motorcycle is the best there is...which is a gigantic lie, but if y'all wanna pretend you're livin' your life like cowboys in a Bon Jovi video, hey, drink up, buttercup, but keep in mind there are lots of people, lots and lots and lots, who think that stuff is 50 Shades of Gay (in the Southpark way).
Irony. When I point out Honda's leading position in the Global Motorcycle industry versus the junk Harley sells (almost exclusively) to Americans and suggest to HD Owners they ought to go hang out at the HD Forum where the "true believers" are...that's not ironic, that's just good sense. What IS ironic are a bunch of HD owners hanging out on a Honda Shadow Forum...and having the NERVE to get their panties in a twist when a Honda Owner trots out the Facts about your inferior motorcycle.
Bike vs You. You are not your bike, so when I point out your Harleys are not nearly as reliable or well-engineered as my Hondas...that's not about you, you see. It's about that lump in your driveway. When you reply with childish "insults" (yo momma!)...you're actually saying a lot more about yourself than me.
I hope this helps clear things up for you and the other brain-stunted HD owners in the house.
(9_9). <------ This is ASCII. It's an Internet thingy used to let you know that I'm rolling my eyes at you.
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1,451 Posts
The Lone Star Motorcycle Museum had a card on this 1972 CB750/Four that read, "The motorcycle that changed everything."
And btw, mshipley, that is an absolutely beautiful bike you have there. A lot of sweet bikes on here, but I every time I see that sig pic I have to linger a moment and say to myself, "That is one beautiful motorcycle!"
I find it mildly amusing in a cultural anthropological, sociology observational point of view, this thread is still going on yet contains no content on how the OP is liking his new scoot. If he doesn't have it on the road yet, then it makes it even more amusing.
I should have gone for the Bonneville SE. LOL. Seriously, Honda in general and the Shadow were actually low on my lists when looking for a bike. I thought, BORING! I recalled comparing a Honda and a Yamaha RD350 once back in the late 70s when checking out bikes and the Honda was like riding a log, the RD like a speeding feather that responded to simple thought instantly. That was in the back of my mind when looking now. I just didn't consider Honda cruisers to be much of anything. I'm the guy going, eh, it's a Shadow, nothing special. It's the other guys, including some Harley guys that tell me, "Shadows are great bikes."
Mine picked me and I still had/have to fully fit it to me (floor boards and lower deflectors eventually). The OP's bike seemed to have picked him. There is a lot to be said for that. Knew a guy at my last assignment that bought a HD V-Rod as his first bike because he walked into the showroom with his V-Rod owning friend, and clear across the showroom floor sat a particular V-Rod that practically yanked him across the floor to it. He wouldn't even look at another bike. He's also a bit intimidated by it on the road, but if he survives, he'll learn to ride it well, I hope.
Point being, sometimes a bike just picks you and you live with it, good points and bad. There are times I'd like a bit more set back in the seat when I twist the throttle on the Shadow, times I would like the ability to dig into a hard curve even more without feeling like I was courting trouble, and at times I'd like a bit more weight to deal with wind out on the road instead of getting batted around so much. I'm not totally impressed with the suspension and rear disc brake on the Shadow for that matter. It is adequate, but I'm sure if I hopped on a GL or something like a 1700 Nomad I'd find a lot of the little things on my Shadow that aren't as smooth or refined. No bike is perfect, but if that ride calls to you and it moves you in spirit as well as literally, then you are in the wind and enjoying your own ride.
Riding my bike moves me. I enjoy looking at my bike, other than thinking, "Damn, I really need to wash that thing." However, it still comes down to being a solid, reliable, yet moderate ride. It doesn't scream original (it looks like a slightly scaled HD Heritage Softail Classic) or attitude (unless you are saying, "I like this, it's fun."), it doesn't speak of massive power or ultimate handling, or even maximum ride comfort. It is a middle of the road, nothing mega-exciting cruiser that is enjoyable to ride and you can count on it to get you down the road and back up again. Not saying it isn't nimble or isn't a great bike. Fact is it probably does fine duty for most anyone just wanting to ride and have enough power to ride the highways and pass other traffic when needed. It is plenty of bike in a lot of ways.
But, as enjoyable as it is, even just pleasant to ride, it falls in that place where you say things in reviews like, "It's a nice looking machine that is easy to ride and won't leave you stranded on the side of the road. Nothing special, nothing really stands out. It isn't a particularly exciting ride, but if what you are looking for is just a solid, forgiving ride to just get out and cruise on that won't tax you to ride, then this is the bike for you."
So what if it the OPs bike isn't THE best of everything. None truly are. Is it more expensive? No doubt. Will he have doubts along the way or after he's been on it long enough to figure out some things he doesn't like will he have those thoughts that maybe he should have gotten something else and now he's stuck with it for awhile? Yep. What matters if those little things are little things to him and by and large he just loves being on his machine, being part of it, then he is riding righteous on a bike that is good for him to be on. As long as the bike doesn't break down every week or two and he's getting lots of soul soothing miles under them, it's all good.
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Is it because it was the first bike to use kitty litter?![]()
The Lone Star Motorcycle Museum had a card on this 1972 CB750/Four that read, "The motorcycle that changed everything."
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Bawhahaha. Gotta love the irony. Now that's a funny observation.:wink:
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An opinion is one thing, to prove a point over and over and over again at the expense of others is something else all together.
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627 Posts
I agree 100%
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71 Posts
As someone who owns a Jeep Wrangler, I can attest to the fact that you can become attached to a ride. I bought it because the wife was bugging (and bugging and bugging and bugging and bugging and...) me to get her one. She has since moved on to a sedan, but I LOVE my Jeep; horrible mpg, road noise, wet butt because I left the top down and all. It is impractical for hauling people or groceries. I can't secure valuables in it, because it takes 2 seconds to slice the top open.
My point is, I enjoy it so everyone else can bugger off if it bothers them.
My point is, I enjoy it so everyone else can bugger off if it bothers them.
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114 Posts
I'd be agreeing with Amos, when i came back to riding after being away for 20 years, i really didn't know what to buy. I went to the harley dealer and the only one that spoke to me remotely was the 1200 custom. Then i went to a generic shop, it stocks yamaha, kawasaki, triumph and honda. Sat on a bunch, thought and returned several times in a two month period. The only one that really 'called to me' was the honda r/s, didn't know anything about, bought it before i read any reviews, good thing too cause there's some negative ops out there. I'm real satisfied, for me it was the right bike. My grandpa once told me to strive for perfection, and settle for excellence. Thats what i got; get the bike that makes you want to ride!!
Indeed; the CB750 did change everything...great all-rounders, even now.
Of course the Shadow 750 is arguably as ubiquitous in the world of v-twins....a bike that does everything well.
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I really don't want to stir the pot here, but several asked me to report how I like the motorcycle so here it goes. I love it. It is so easy to ride. I rode a Buell Blast in the MSF which was a lot of fun,but my Harley just is so much easier to handle. Of course at 700 pounds I can't man handle it like I can a 500 Buell but it handles so well who needs too. I Love my Harley. I am a little freaked though cause the day before I rode mine home another guy from work bought a bike and got run over by a truck on the way home. Couldn't see him through the cage I guess. Last I heard he was in bad shape but alive. I will know more tomorrow.
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